Chaos prevailed at Manila North Cemetery, resulting in one person with a disability and two senior citizens going missing after a massive crowd flooded the country’s largest necropolis. The gates opened at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
According to the police, they had already processed and permitted the entry of approximately 100,000 people since Tuesday, and when the gates officially opened early Wednesday morning, the situation escalated.
A search and rescue mission has been launched by the police to locate the missing three individuals.
As of the time of this posting on Wednesday, a long queue was observed due to the influx of thousands of visitors. The police were individually inspecting them to ensure prohibited items such as broomsticks, paint, and thinner were not brought into the cemetery. Items confiscated by the police included cigarettes, lighters, vapes, and perfumes, all of which are not allowed inside the cemetery.
Earlier, PNP Chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr confirmed that there was no security threat during the observance of Undas (All Saints’ Day).
During an inspection visit to Manila North Cemetery a few days ago, Acorda mentioned that they had not received any information about the possibility of disturbances during this Undas.
According to the PNP Chief, area commanders will be responsible for maintaining alertness, depending on the situation in their respective areas.
(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)